Water Testing: What You Should Know

Water Testing: What You Should Know

June 18, 2020

Have you ever wondered how safe your tap water really is, or if you need to be concerned about the presence of any bacteria or contaminants? If this has been on your mind, you might consider getting your water tested in Pisgah Forest, NC. It’ll take a bit of effort and money on your part, but the results can shed some light on your water quality, and it’s especially worthwhile if you’ve had any noticeable issues with your water of late.

If you are on a municipal water system and pay your own water bill, you should receive a Consumer Confidence Report each year that discusses your water quality. If you do not get this information, you should contact your local water supplier. You might also be able to find your CCR on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website.

The report should contain a summary of the water quality and whether or not there are any contaminants known to be present in your water. It will also include information about the specific health risks associated with those contaminants, and if there are any steps being taken to fix the problem.

However, you will not get a CCR if you’re on well water, which means you’re on your own when it comes to water testing in Pisgah Forest, NC.

Getting a test done

You can find kits online and at hardware stores that will allow you to perform some DIY water testing. However, the accuracy of these tests varies, and it might not even be clear exactly what they’re designed to test for. Instead, it’s recommended you work through an EPA-certified water laboratory. You can find listings of these labs on the EPA’s website.

These laboratories will offer their services for a fee of anywhere from $20 to $150, depending on your area and the testing services you require. In some cases, communities might offer test kits for free.

Follow the instructions that come with your test kit and return it to the laboratory, which will then analyze the water and provide you with your test results. Those results will tell you exactly what’s in your water and in what quantities so you can select a filter that will suit your specific needs.

If you have high levels of contaminants or multiple types of contaminants, you’ll be well-suited for a reverse osmosis filter, which is capable of removing bacteria and a wide variety of minerals and other contaminants. However, these filters do take up quite a bit of space and require some additional plumbing, and can be quite expensive. You might be able to get by with a simple carbon filter to improve the taste or odor of your water if you have lower contaminant levels.

Your water laboratory will be able to recommend a solution that works best for you based on your test results.

For more information about the water testing process and how it can benefit you as a homeowner, we encourage you to contact Royal Water Works, Inc. today about bacterial water testing in Pisgah Forest, NC.

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